Rwanda Case Law

KAYINAMURA vs IKIGO CY’IMISORO N’AMAHORO (RRA)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RADAA00017/2024/CA

The Court of Appeal lacks jurisdiction to hear the second appeal because the total damages awarded by the lower courts (2,712,703 Frw) do not meet the statutory threshold of 75,000,000 Frw required by Article 52(2)(8) of Law No 30/2018. The applicant's argument that the initial claim value should control is rejected; only the amount awarded is relevant. The respondent is entitled to partial costs and attorney fees given the outcome and the statutory framework.

Source excerpt

• Jurisdiction of appellate courts
• Quantum of damages
• Retirement benefits
• Staff retention schemes
• Costs and attorney fees

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TRUST FOR SUSTAINABLE GROUP LTD vs RUGAMBWA

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RCOMAA00017/2024/CA

The Court of Appeal held that Trust For Sustainable Group Ltd’s second appeal was not admissible because it lost below on the same grounds and the damages awarded were below the statutory threshold.

• Lease agreements
• Second appeal jurisdiction
• Quantum of damages
• Procedural bars
• Second-appeal-jurisdiction
• Commercial-contract-dispute

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MUTABAZI v. LETA Y’U RWANDA/MINADEF N’ABANDI

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RCOMAA 00009/2024/CA

The Court of Appeal lacks jurisdiction because the damages awarded to Mutabazi Steven and appealed by him do not reach the statutory threshold of RWF 75,000,000. Only the amount awarded to the appellant and actually appealed is relevant for jurisdiction, not the aggregate of all awards to all parties.

Source excerpt

• Appellate jurisdiction
• Quantum of damages
• Joinder of parties
• Costs and attorney fees

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WHITEFIELD INVESTMENT COMPANY Ltd vs THOMAS ET PIRON GRANDS LACS, N’ABANDI.

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RCOMAA 00024/2023/CA

The Court of Appeal lacks jurisdiction to hear a second appeal in commercial matters where the total damages awarded in the lower courts do not reach 75,000,000 Frw, regardless of the original value of the property in dispute, and the appeal is therefore inadmissible.

Source excerpt

• Appellate jurisdiction
• Quantum of damages
• Costs and attorney fees
• Procedural bars

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NKURUNZIZA NUNDI V. HAKIZIMANA N'UNDI

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RCAA 0054/12/CS

The Supreme Court of Rwanda upheld a defamation finding over a distributed booklet, restored trial-level moral damages, and increased legal costs awarded to the respondents.

• Defamation
• Moral damages
• Civil liability
• Causation
• Quantum of damages
• Moral-damages

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